Wayne Rooney talks Plymouth Argyle style of play and more new signings

Wayne Rooney has wasted no time in starting to implement the style of play that he wants to see from his new Plymouth Argyle side so they are fully prepared for the start of the 2024/25 Championship campaign.

Rooney is looking for the Pilgrims to be 'very organised' but to also combine that with playing 'good, entertaining football' and the work on achieving those aims has already begun at the start of pre-season training this week.

The Argyle head coach has been impressed with what he has seen from the players so far, but has made it clear to them he wants to bring in more new recruits, to add to the three who have arrived so far this summer.

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Rooney said: "I want to be an attacking coach, that's something I have always wanted to do, and to play entertaining football. Obviously with control as well, I don't want it to be an unorganised press.

"I think my teams have always been very organised but we play good, entertaining football, and of course you want to score goals, that's what everyone wants to see. My style of play is all aimed to do that.

"It's a lot of work obviously to get that into the players over the next five or six weeks for the first game of the season. That's what we are working on now, that has already started.

"Pre-season over the years when I was training it went from running on the beach, to the first week you don't see a ball. Every day the players get the ball out, I think it's really important they understand how you want to play positionally, and fitness-wise is so important.

"We have to be a fit team, so there is a lot of work ahead for the players over the next five or six weeks, but I have to say they have started really well over the last couple of days, I have been really impressed with them."

The three signings that Argyle have made this summer are midfielder Darko Gyabi and striker Muhamed Tijani, who have arrived on season-long loans from Leeds United and Czech club Slavia Prague, as well as left wing-back Nathanael Ogebta as a free agent from Swansea City.

Rooney said: "I think we have got a good squad, I think we have got a good group of young players as well within the squad. Of course, I want to bring players in, which we have already started with that, and we are hoping to get a few more players in. These are messages I have given to the players as well, so I'm not saying anything which I haven't said to them.

"I'm looking to bring players in, but ultimately the message to the players is everyone has got a chance. It's on them to prove to me they deserve to play, and that's how I have always worked.

"Hard work is a very good skill set to have, to come in and work hard every day. My job is to give them the details of how you make them better, how you position your body, how you move the ball, what foot you pass the ball to, and tactically make sure we get it right. If we do that we will do very well.

"I feel I can improve the players, I think they can improve, whether that's young players or some of the more senior players as well. It's a good opportunity for me to give them my information what I want, and hopefully I can see them improve. If we do that, mixed with the new players who come into the club, I think we will be in a really good place."

Unlike his time in charge of Derby County or Birmingham City, Rooney is getting the chance to put his own stamp on the Argyle squad by bringing in players. There were huge financial issues that he had to contend with at cash-strapped Derby, while his three months at Birmingham last season came when the transfer window was not open so he had to work solely with the players he inherited.

So this is the first time he has been able to sign players. "You know what, it's great," he said. "I'm from Liverpool, I'm always pushing more as well. I'm sure Simon (Hallett, Argyle's majority owner and chairman) and Andrew (Parkinson, chief executive officer) will tell you that."

Rooney made the point that while he was recently a TV pundit for the BBC's coverage of Euro 2024 in Germany he was also involved behind the scenes in player recruitment for Argyle.

He said: "The players, the staff were on their holidays and had a break. I was working the TV in Germany but a lot of work was getting done, as we have seen three players through the door already.

"There was a lot of work with recruitment, with Neil (Dewsnip, director of football), with Andrew, in making sure we put ourselves in a position that if the players we identify are available to bring in we do that as quickly as possible.

"That's what I ask for and the club have been great in doing that. It wasn't the case of me being out in Germany and not working, there was a lot of sleepless nights and a lot of preparation in terms of presentations for players, and speaking to current players and getting to know them a little bit more as well.

"So there was a lot of work being done, but I'm so happy to be in here now to meet the players, meet all the staff and we have had a good first few days."

When asked where he would look to strengthen the Argyle squad, Rooney replied: "You always have to look if there is someone available who will improve the team, whatever position that is, then you have to be ready.

"If it's a realistic opportunity to bring that player in, we have to be ready, whether it's myself, the recruitment team, the owner of the football club. We have to be ready and if it's realistic, and we can do it financially, of course we will look to do it. If it's something which is unrealistic then there is no point in us wasting time on them."